Winning a championship in any sport is one of the toughest things to do. Winning consecutive championships is even tougher due to back to back (or more) long playoff runs, which leads to shorter off-season’s. Below is a list of teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL since 2000 that have made it back to the finals of their respective sport but were unable to finish the job in successfully defending their championship.
2000-01 NEW JERSEY DEVILS – After winning the Stanley Cup in 2000 over the Dallas Stars (the Stars narrowly avoided this list as I wanted it all to be from 2000 and on and the Stars won in 1999), the New Jersey Devils came one game shy of successfully defending their Stanley Cup victory. The Devils lost game 7 to the Colorado Avalanche in Colorado.
2001 NEW YORK YANKEES – The New York Yankees are one of a few teams on this list that HAD successfully defended their title but their streak ultimately ended. The Yankees had won the World Series in 1998, 1999, and 2000 but the streak ended in 2001 when they failed to complete the four-peat in a seven game loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Yankees entered the bottom of the ninth with a one run lead but the Diamondbacks would ultimately win on a Luis Gonzalez walk-off single.
AUBURN HILLS, MI – JUNE 19: Robert Horry #5 of the San Antonio Spurs makes a three-point shot to put the Spurs ahead of the Detroit Pistons 96-95 in the final seconds of overtime of Game five of the 2005 NBA Finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills on June 19, 2005 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
2004-05 DETROIT PISTIONS – After taking down the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in 2004 the Detroit Pistons would fall short of a repeat to the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. The 2004 NBA Champions fell to the 2003 NBA Champions in seven games in the 2005 NBA Finals.
DETROIT – JUNE 12: Maxime Talbot #25 of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores his second goal of the second period past goaltender Chris Osgood #30 and Niklas Kronwall #55 of the Detroit Red Wings during Game Seven of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 12, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images).
2008-09 DETROIT RED WINGS – The Detroit Red Wings fell one game short of successfully defending their 2008 Stanley Cup in 2009. A Stanley Cup rematch saw the Pittsburgh Penguins take down the Red Wings in seven games in 2009.
PHILADELPHIA – NOVEMBER 02: Starting pitcher Cliff Lee #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in Game Five of the 2009 MLB World Series at Citizens Bank Park on November 2, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 8-6. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
2009 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES – The Philadelphia Phillies took down the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 World Series. A year later they would return to the World Series and face another American League East team in the New York Yankees. The Phillies title defense would come up short, losing in six games to the Yankees.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 15: Ray Allen #34 of the Miami Heat looks on from the bench against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2014 NBA Finals at the AT&T Center on June 15, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
2013-14 MIAMI HEAT – The Heat were successful in defending their 2012 NBA title but their 2013 title defense was not as successful. The Heat fell in five games to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals.
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots intercepts a pass by Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks intended for Ricardo Lockette #83 late in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – SUPER BOWL XLIX – The Seattle Seahawks smoked the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII but were not as successful in Super Bowl XLIX. With the game on the line, Russell Wilson was intercepted by Malcolm Butler at the goal line and the New England Patriots came away victorious.
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers blocks a shot by Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 19, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
2015-16 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS – The Golden State Warriors had a 3-1 series lead in their NBA Finals title defense but ended up throwing it all away. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers would pull out the next three games and win the 2016 title.
Clement is best known in New England for his big game for the Eagles against the Patriots in Super Bowl LII, when he caught four passes for 100 yards and a touchdown (sorry to bring that up). Now in Dallas, Clement has been active for all three games but has carried the ball just three times, for a grand total of zero (0) yards.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – SUPER BOWL LII – The New England Patriots had a chance to become the first team to win back to back championships since…..the New England Patriots. However, they fell short in Super Bowl LII by losing 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 05: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors attempts a shot against the Golden State Warriors during Game Three of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 05, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
2018-19 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS – The Warriors were another team that couldn’t successfully complete a three-peat. They won NBA titles in 2017 and 2018 but fell short in 2019. The Warriors run ended at the hands of the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs walks with his head down in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – SUPER BOWL 55 – The Kansas City Chiefs took down the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54. The next year they would fall short in their title defense against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 26: Corey Perry #10 of the Tampa Bay Lightning reacts after losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
2021-22 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING – The Lightning are another team that couldn’t complete the three-peat. After Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021, the Lightning fell to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final in six games.
